Meat-chopping machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. STEIGERT. MEAT GHPPING- MACHINE.

No. 459,450. Patented Sept. 15, 1891.

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m EIFIIIIIIIII I f5 l (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. STEIGERT.

A MEAT SHOPPING MACHINE. n

y No. 459,450. Patentedeptjlyylwl.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEOPOLD STEIGERT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

MEAT-SHOPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,450, dated September 15, 1891.

Application filed July 25, 1889` Serial No. 318,634. (No model.)

marked Ithereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in meat-chopping machines in which verticallyreciprocating knives operate in conjunction with arotating chopping-block and a primary cutting apparatus; and the objects of the invention are to provide means in a meat-chopping machine by which the chopping-knives with their operating mechanism can be tilted or partly revolved on journals, so as to facilitate the sharpening of said knives without the necessity of removing them from their places, as is now usually the case; also, to produce convenient means for adjusting the rotating chopping-block vertically when it becomes worn; furthermore, to produce mechanism by which the meat to be chopped is first cut and reduced in size before being fed to the chopping-block to be acted on by the reciprocating chopping-knives, and, finally, to prevent lubricating oil or grease from the crank-shaft or operating parts connected to it being thrown intosthe meat on the chopping-block and injuring said meat.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the construction of certain details and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described hereinafter, and specifically pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings,A in which- Figure l represents a front elevation of the ent-ire machine. Fig. 2 is a top view or plan of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same on line x ai, Fig. l, with the reciprocating knives tilted for sharpening. Fig. 4

elusive, are detail views of the cutting apparatus on an enlarged scale,I and more definitely hereinafter described. Fig. l0 is an enlarged sectional view of the entire primary cutting apparatus. p Fig. ll is a detail top View of the adjusting-ring for the chopping-block on a reduced scale.

In the drawings, A is the main frame of the machine, in which the rotatingchopping-block B is mounted, being rotated by a toothed rimwheel b, with which the pinion c meshes, and with the pinion c another pinion c gears, the latter secured to a vertical shaft R, that receives motion by a worm-Wheel r and worm q on the crank-shaft- O. The chopping-block B is adjusted vertically by an annular supporting-ring D, provided with the arms d d',

.with which the screws e, having square heads e', engage, and pass through lugs a on the frame. The arm d extends rearward, while the arms CZ extendsidewise, being placed for ward-of the center, as best seen in Fig. ll, and by turning the screws e by their heads e the block B can be adjusted. The front part of the base A may be provided with an opening a, to gain access for washing the bottom, tbc. The rear part of the frame A is closed to prevent scattering of the meat While chopping, and at its upper sides it is provided with the bearings a for the journalsfof the tilting part or top E of said frame. Said part E, when tilted in its normal position, also forms a closed back for the machine and prevents oil or grease from the operating parts being thrown into the meat which is being chopped on the chopping-block. This part E is provided with three 0r more standards g,

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ciprocated on the guides z'. The choppingknives K are adj ustably attached to lugs h on the cross-heads la, and the guides are secured to the under side of the part E.

To one side of the frame A is secured What I term the primary cutting apparatus, which consists of a hopper L, havingits lower part provided With teeth l, and it is connected to a tubular part M, extending toward the ch opping-block. At the juncture of the parts L and M is arranged a plate m,With perforations andl a depression m', into which the head n of a shaft N fits. This shaft passes through a hole m2 (see Fig. 8) and through a hub n on the/Lube M, and' has a gear-Wheel 0 on its lower end, by which it is operated. The head n has a square depression n2, into which the lower square end o2 of a feedingscrew O fits and receives its motion. The upper end of said screw is journaled in a hubp on a yoke P, secured to the top of the hopper.

At the lower end of the screw O, on the square part 02, is arranged arevolving cutter or knife Q, (Shown in Fig. 7,) and it has a square hole q, and by said cutter the meat is cut before passing through the perforations in the plate m. On the end of the crankshaft C is secured a Worm q', which meshes with a Worin-Wheel r on the upright shaft R, to which a gear-Wheel o is attached that iinparts motion to the wheel o and feeding-screw O. Upon the shaft R a clutch is attached, Wiih which the sliding part T of the clutch engages by being lnoved in and out by the lever U. Whenever itis desired to dispense with the use of the primary cutter, the clutch T is moved out of contact With the part S. If desired, the primary cutting apparatus may be secured to a separate stand, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l0, and used in connection with the ordinary chopping-machine now in use, being then operated by a crank and suitable bevel-gearing.

The operation is as follows: The different parts being in proper position and the belt or other gearing connected to alnotive power, the meat is placed in the hopper L of the cutting apparatus, when it is forced down- Ward by the feeding-screw O, and is first torn by the teeth Z and then cut into pieces small enough to pass through the holes in the plate m, and passes through the tubular part M onto the revolving chopping-block. It is here acted on by the chopping-knives K until the meat is fine enough for the purpose desired, When it can be removed and replaced by another quantity. If it is desired to dispense With the use of the primary cutting apparatus, the clutch is thrown out of gear and the rest of the machine can operate Without it.

I-IaVing thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Ina meat-chopping machine, the combinationof the chopping-block, the crank-shaft, the pitmen I, the reciprocating choppingknives carried by lthe cross-heads k, the guides 2', the pivoted tilting top E, to the under side of which said guides are attached, and the frame A, all arranged `and operatingas shown and described.

2. In a meat-chopping machine, the combination of the rotary chopping-block, the knifeactuating crank-shaft, the vertical shaft R, geared to said crank-shaft and to the block, the primary cutting apparatus-consisting of the hopper L and the knife Q, the shaft N, carrying said knife and geared to said shaft R, the clutch S on shaft R, the lever for operating the sliding part cf said clutch, and the tube M, communicating with the chopping-block, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEOPOLD STEIGERT.

Witnesses:

T. C. BRECHT, M. P. CALLAN. 

